Next stop for NASA… deep space
The Wall Street Journal breaks down NASA’s new ambitious Space Launch System.
NASA unveiled plans Wednesday for a $35 billion rocket program designed to surpass the storied boosters of the Apollo era and eventually be powerful enough to launch astronauts as far as Mars.
The ambitious project caps months of disputes between NASA and lawmakers, and follows internal White House debates over its price tag. The heavy-lift rocket will be the cornerstone of the U.S.’s efforts to explore deep space, taking “humans to places no one has gone before,” said Charles Bolden, head of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
The ultimate goal, according to industry and government officials, is to launch 140 tons or more, including a capsule already under development and able to carry at least four astronauts, far beyond Earth’s orbit in future decades.
Salt-water flows found on Mars
Not that Red Lobster will be opening an outpost anytime soon, but news that salt-water flows have just been discovered on Mars has scientists in a tizzy. The Mars orbiter snapped the following pictures which show large streaks that may be caused by salt-water flows.
Discovery News has another possible explanation:
There are other explanations for the channels, including releases of frozen carbon dioxide, tracks from dust devils or rock slides.
But those events are not necessarily seasonal, making them less likely than water to be the proverbial smoking gun.
Either way we’ll need another lander mission to confirm what these things are.
